Man held for repeatedly raping girl

A man from Bhiwandi town in the district was arrested today for allegedly repeatedly raping a 17-year-old girl and impregnating her, police said. The accused was identified as Lavkush Mourya, 22, who worked in a dyeing company in the powerloom town.

"The accused and the girl's father worked in the same company. On December 11, which was the victim's birthday, the accused sexually assaulted her and thereafter committed the same crime on several occasions on his company's premises," senior inspector S D Jadhav of Narpoli police station said. He threatened the girl with dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident. The parents of the girl, who is now two months pregnant, lodged a complaint with the police yesterday, police said. The accused has been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Further investigation is on.